Hopi Historic Polychrome Serving Bowl [R]

C3575-hopi-bowl.jpg

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Potter Once Known
  • Category: Historic
  • Origin: Hopi Pueblo, Hopituh Shi-nu-mu
  • Medium: clay, pigment
  • Size: 6-1/4” deep x 11-1/4” diameter
  • Item # C3575
  • Price No Longer Available

Old Hopi pottery takes on the most luscious look after years of use in daily household chores.  This bowl certainly was lovingly used for decades.  The interior slip on the bowl is worn thin and has assumed a soft oily look.  If there was any design in the lower bowl, it has been worn away.  The design on the interior rim is still partially visible.  The exterior design is still mostly visible but has mellowed to a soft tone.   There is enough of the red rim paint to provide evidence that the rim was red but most of the red has worn away.

 

The bowl has an exterior design based on one borrowed from Zuni decades ago.  The rounded bottom, indented neck, Zuni design, and significant wear pattern all lead to estimating that the bowl dates to the late 1800s or very early 1900s. 

 

The warm orange glow of Hopi pottery is a result of the firing technique and all Hopi pottery fired in that manner has warmth to it but, after decades of use, it takes on a particularly exciting luster that only comes from use.  Take a look at the images and see if you have the reaction I had.  It is a stunning bowl.

 

Condition:  normal wear from significant use

Provenance:  from the collection of a Santa Fe resident

Recommended Reading Canvas of Clay: Seven Centuries of Hopi Ceramic Art by Wade and Cooke.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

close up view of outside of this bowl

Potter Once Known
  • Category: Historic
  • Origin: Hopi Pueblo, Hopituh Shi-nu-mu
  • Medium: clay, pigment
  • Size: 6-1/4” deep x 11-1/4” diameter
  • Item # C3575
  • Price No Longer Available

C3575-hopi-bowl.jpgC3575-large.jpg Click on image to view larger.